Obama to promote fiscal cliff plan with Va. family

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is showcasing a northern Virginia family to highlight his call for extending current tax rates to all but the top 2 percent of earners.

Obama wants to keep up pressure on Republicans as a year-end deadline for avoiding a so-called fiscal cliff of tax increases and spending cuts draws near. He will travel to a Virginia suburb of Washington on Thursday.

Obama spoke with Republican House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday, signaling the possible start of fresh talks to avoid the fiscal cliff.

Despite the entreaty, Obama was not cutting back on a public campaign to pressure Republicans into accepting rate hikes for wealthier Americans. Republicans say they are willing to raise revenues but want to do it by closing loopholes and limiting deductions on the rich.